Hi,
Chris Close in Austin Texas here.

First of all, please dont tell me or the others who post here how to fix our brake problem. This is my 4th F150 and I have a 1997 4x4 expedition. I have NEVER had problems like this before.... So if you too have had rotor problems please post your story. I am not looking for "Help", just a general count of those who have similiar problems as I do.

Thanks in Advance
--Chris

I have 60k on my 1999 f-150. I am on my 2nd set of pads and 4th set of rotors. All work has been done at the dealer. First set (rotors) where replaced at 14k. Second set at 34k. Third set at 47 k and last at 54k.

Rear brakes are just now needing new pads.

Each time I got the rotors repleaced the truck would start to shimmy back and forth when stopping. Dealer has replaced all rotors under warranty (after much bitching) but it is a huge pain in the ***. I hope to hear your story. Please post your location.

Regards
--Chris

 

13k for me they went bad.
again at 25k

I think each ford part i replace with aftermarket parts, the better the truck gets (powerslot rotors among other items) in 15 years of owning BMW's I never had the problems that I have had in my ford trucks, but what are you gonna do, get a Chebby? a Dogde? yeah, me either,
but if anyone has ever had a beemer, or a Mercedes, it would have to **** you off to deal with the inadequacies of fords quality control and engineering.
ford needs to get a grip

 

36k, front pads and rotors shot, warped of course. since then I have had the brakes done twice, and about to do them again. The rears lasted til 75k, when they went out of round and made the rear bounce violently up and down while stopping from any speed. But, I have only had one set of rotors go bad. Sounds like you may have issues with your brakes getting seated properly, although my fronts don't seem to last more than a year or so anyway.,,,,98

Mine just started the quiet squeal while stopping from low speeds. TIME FOR NEW PADS, AGAIN. Third set since 36k, and I haven't owned it since new(24k)

 

I posted another thread a few days ago about ceramic pads but after 3 days of looking for and isolating the problem, it seems to be the rotor. I was getting a popping or thumping sound after installing new pads and having the rotors turned on my '99. Last night, I had one rotor turned again and the thump was much less pronounced. Although it started to get louder as the breaks got hotter, it still wasn't as bad as before the second turning. Will turn again or may just by new rotors. Any suggestions on a good brand for the money?

 

A guy here at work did his brakes recently and he found that most of the new out the box rotors hardly meet the spec's (thickness) when new so when they get turned they are out of spec . brake the pads in gently and stay out the rain till broke in. hot rotators and rain dont mix.

 

To get back on original topic, my rotors went out (warped, front and back at same time) at about 60K. I'm now at 72K and still haven't replaced them. I know it's not an issue that makes the brakes not work; it's just damn uncomfortable, especially when the bed's unloaded (which is most of the time).

I want to buy nice replacements (PowerSlots), so I'm working up the money slowly. I have to wait for PowerSlot to start making the front rotors anyway.

I changed my pads regularly (every 20K front and 30K back), and thought the shake was because the new pads needed to set to the rotors when I replaced them both at 60K, but it kept getting worse, not better. Ever since I replaced stock I've used expensive ceramic pads (Raybestos Quiet Stop), which were quiet and made very little brake dust. But I think I'll go back to semi-metallic (Hawk) pads on my new rotors, especially since that's what PowerSlot recommends.

 

Ford needs to realize Chinese metal has horrible quality. Very porous and warps easily. Brembo rotors are the same price and are like jewelry compared to the Ford crap. They have a much denser, thicker casting that removes heat from the brakes more quickly. A little secret, PowerSlot uses Brembo blanks for their rotors....damon@tirerack.com

 

Had my front rotors turned at ~24k miles, and just replaced them at 47k miles. I only got ~20K out of them before they would warp both times I just replaced them w/ Powerslots. Bandit is right - powerslots are brembos that have been slotted.

My rear pads also need replaced, but I didn't have time to do the front and rear at the same time. I got hawk HPS pads for both front and rear - now I just need time to put the rears on...

 

not saying this is your problem but thought i would mention. It is very important to break in new pads and rotors. do about 10 gradual stops from 25 mph, then another 8 gradual stops from about 40 mph. Gradual Stops. Second, if you have dust caps on your wheels (the covers that keep brake dust from showing on your wheels), take them off. The covers make the rotors run hot and they can warp your rotors. A popping noise sounds to me like a loose brake caliper. Might be worth researching a little further before you power slots. There is plenty of info to indicate the slots dont add anything at all to performance. Would agree, brembo is a good brand but i havnet had any problem with cheapo autozone replacement rotors. my truck has 148,000 miles and replaced the rotors about 30k ago.

 

I drove Toyota 4x4's (3 different ones) before getting my F150 and have to say that the Ford brakes suck! They overheat and the rotors warp like crazy! I have a 99 F150 with 4 wheel discs. The rears have been pretty painless but the fronts just overheat, plain and simple. The rotors are the same size as the ones on the Toyotas which sounds fine until you consider an F150 weighs about a time and a half what the 4runner does. Then put a little weight in the bed or a trailer on! I just replaced my rotors and pads with ceramic and they burned in fine until the weather got to almost 100 yesterday. I heard some grinding that really depressed me, especially after I paid $400 bucks two days earlier. I tried to stay off of them and just brake hard and quick to prevent further glazing but just the heat of the day and the friction from freeway driving made them overheat! Today the temp was about 15 degrees cooler and I had no problems. I am hoping once they are completely broke in I won't have any problems but I always feel like I am walking on eggshells with these brakes. This is one of the things that kept me from buying a Ford for years. Fortunately there are enough good points to these trucks but I feel all the pain of my fellow posters here! These brakes do suck!

 

About 3,000 miles ago (at 52,000) I started getting that "shimmy" you're talking about. I went and got some new rotors at Ford and took them back a week later. Grinding and scraping noise was unbelivable. I put on a new set of rotors from Autozone....about $40 each, with a set of their upgraded ceramic pads. All better. Measuring the original set of rotors, I couldn't see the warp. It was all good all the way around. When I laid them on the concrete flor of my gargage, I could see the warp and feel the rotor rock back and forth. Anyway.....things are good now.....I just hope these last for awhile.

 

No problem here, course I try to not use my brakes.

 

1999 F250 LD- 64,000 MILES and 2 sets of front rotors, 1 rear and 3 sets of front pads and 1 rear set. Does Ford have a "Better Idea!"
.

 

99 f-150 xlt scab 5.4 4 whl disc.

had front rotors replaced at 8k, had front pads replaced and new rotors at 22k Ford said the pad were their upgraded ones. had front rotors turned at 34k.

had rear rotors turned at 15k had new rear rotors at 25k and two studs becase the mechanic let a tire jockey put the wheels back on and he forgot to torque them! They were just hand tight. My center cap kept the rim from falling off at 80mph!

truck ran out of 3/36k warranty and front rotors were warped again at 42k.

put oem brembos and ebc 6000 pads on 15k ago and i have towed in the 100 degree heat no noise no dust no problems!

 

2001 SuperCrew. Rotors warped about 1 month after I had them turned at about 44,000 miles. Turned them again at around 49,000 miles, warped again soon thereafter. Now looking to replace with something that works.

Am told that it isn't unusual for rotors to warp after being turned. Never had this problem before, maybe just Ford rotors?

Overall, brakes are one of the weakest points on my truck. Do not inspire confidence, require continuous attention [warped rotors caused caliper bolts to loosen on both fronts!]

However, as poor as they are they're tons better than the brakes on the Chevy S-10 I had before it!